Man wanted in fatal Tacoma shooting arrested in Georgia

A man wanted for a fatal shooting in Tacoma earlier this month has been arrested in Georgia.

A U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force took into custody Germi Zeigler, 28, after tracking him out of state to Macon, Georgia.

It is unclear when Zeigler will be extradited to Pierce County to stand trial for the March 11 death of Ozell Tyrece Tate, 37.

Zeigler is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

A passerby approached a patrol officer about 3:30 p.m. that afternoon and told police about a fight in the Court G alley between South 15th and 16th streets.

As the officer went to respond, he heard a gunshot.

Police arrived in the 1500 block of South G Street and found a woman screaming that someone had been shot.

Tate was found lying in the ground next to the passenger door of a vehicle with a gunshot wound to his thigh.

The officer applied a tourniquet, but Tate died at the hospital.

Charging papers give this account of the shooting:

Tate made an appearance in Pierce County Superior Court on March 11 for a first-degree theft case in which he was charged.

After leaving the courthouse, he walked back to his car and sat in the passenger seat speaking with a woman he knew.

Zeigler drove by and parked, asking Tate if they could talk.

When Tate agreed but asked why Zeigler had a gun in the pocket of his sweatshirt, Zeigler said, “I’m a gangsta for real,” records say.

Zeigler was apparently upset because he believed Tate had disrespected him, but detectives have not released details about what the disagreement was over.

During the confrontation, Zeigler allegedly asked the woman if she was going to tell Tate about an argument Zeigler had earlier with his girlfriend.

He fired a single shot at Tate and ran for his vehicle before driving away.

This isn’t the first time Zeigler has been in trouble with the law.

He was convicted in December 2019 of attempted first-degree theft, a felony which prohibits him from possessing a firearm, records say.

A warrant was issued for Zeigler’s arrest two days after the homicide.